Brief overview of what is being presented/discussed (this will also be shown in the Annual Meeting Program Book):
Despite numerous advances in the field, the diagnosis, classification, grading, and management of cystic and intraductal lesions of the pancreatobiliary tract remain controversial. Additionally, recently described entities such as intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm (ITPN) and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) remain diagnostically challenging, and their prognostic implications are poorly understood. The mission of the Pancreatobiliary Pathology Society is to educate surgical and cytopathologists on the importance of the advances in this complex area and will hopefully transform the way we practice pancreatobiliary pathology. The Education Committee, in consultation with Society officers, determined the title, contents, and speakers of this companion meeting.

The chosen topics represent a 360-degree expert evaluation of cystic and intraductal pancreatobiliary lesions in the step-wise manner in which they are often encountered, from the surgeon’s perspective, to their cytomorphologic and molecular characteristics, as well as their histomorphology.

Thank you for attending our companion meeting at USCAP 2019! PDF versions of the presentations can now be downloaded from the links below.

It’s March, which means the 2019 annual USCAP meeting is upon us! Please join us on Saturday March 16th for our Companion Society Meeting: “Challenging Topics in Pancreatic Neoplasia: I: An Update on Non-ductal Neoplasms and II: Approach to Neo-adjuvant Treated Ductal Adenocarcinoma.” Our Education Committee has created an informative two-part session that will first cover non-ductal neoplasms of the pancreas followed by the pathologic evaluation of treated pancreatic cancer that will include an update about our Neo-adjuvant Therapy Working Group. The Education Committee has also been busy reviewing the 15 abstracts they received for the Pancreatobiliary Pathology Society Abstract Award, and the winner will be announced at our annual Business Meeting, which will immediately follow the Companion Society session from 9:45 pm - 10:00 pm. For those who are unable to attend, please check our website after the meeting.

Our society has been productive over the past several months in other areas as well. The next case of the quarter will soon be released - keep an eye out for it on our website! Our bimonthly journal watch nicely highlights pertinent publications involving the pancreatobiliary tract. Both of these activities are now perks of membership. If you are not an active member, please join or renew your membership online! If you are a new member, welcome! In addition to the Neo-adjuvant Therapy Working Group, we have two other active Working Groups: The Grossing Working Group is in the process of writing a manuscript and the Cytology Working Group has been formed and is gathering data.

Our society would not be a success if it were not for the tireless efforts of our members. I would like to recognize the following members who have been making an impact in our society: Olca Basturk, who was instrumental in organizing this year’s companion session; Serdar Balci for publishing the bimonthly journal watch; Jiaqi Shi and Michelle Reid for contributing the cases of the quarter; Mabel Ko for managing our website; and the members of the Executive Committee, Grace Kim, David Klimstra, David Lewin, Volkan Adsay and Olca, for keeping everything on track and in order.

I am proud to be part of this international organization that strives to improve the clinical practice of pancreatobiliary pathology by providing a comfortable environment of team work and cooperation. An organization from which will sprout future leaders in the field of pancreatobiliary pathology.